Semaphore signal device.



R. P. Tumi @L M. H. LOUGHRIDGE.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLIC`AT|0N FILED SEPT. 30, |913.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

m NN www i i i 2 i f a .c STTS i RALPH IP. TUTTLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND MATTHEW H. LOUGHRIDGE, OF

y WOODGLIFFE-ON-HUDSON, NEW JERSEY.

snivinrrionn sIGNAL nnvrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. a, iai 7.

Application filed September 30, 1913. Serial No. 792,624.

a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Richmond, city, county, and State of New York, and MATTHEW H. LoUGnRiDen, a citizen of the United States, residing at 313 31st street, l'i/'oodclifl'e-on- Hudson, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semaphore Signal Devices, of which the following is a specication.

Our invention relates to signal devices,l

and particularly tol semaphore signal devices used in con uection withrailway signal mech,- anisms. The obiectsof our invention are to provide means for reinforcing a light metallic bladeand a rmeans of supporting this blade from its operating member in such a way as to present an unbroken 4rsurface from one side. Further-objectsof our invention are to provide a means for supporting a light enameled blade at frequent intervals on a line near its longitudinal axis, in this way distributing its weight and rendering the enamel less liable to crack at thepoints of l edges are provided with slots 5a, 5b, 5 and support.

IVe attain these objects by the construc-V tion illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front view of a semaphore signal device embodying our invention with the blade partly broken away to show the method of fastening. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section on line m-fz/ of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a rear view (in perspective) of the signal blade and its supporting member shown in Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the illustrations.

A, designates what is termed in the art as a spectacle casting carrying colored glass y disks, a1, a?, and as. This casting as usual is mounted on a shaft 1 which is operated to move the casting and with it the colored glasses and blade B, against the usual bias of the casting and blade. The form of invention shown in the drawings is adapted for use in connection with semaphore signal devices of the kind giving indications in the upper quadrant. The invention is, however, equally applicable to devices giving indica tions in the lower quadrant and to center pivoted devices giving the indication partially in the lower and' partially in the up per quadrant.

B designates a blade secured to the casting A through a supporting member C which is fastened to A at its blade grip 2. The blade is made of light gagesheet metal and preferably enameled with a glaze enamel which preserves the metal and provides a fast color. The supporting member C is de` signed to reinforce the blade B and to support it at frequent intervals near its longitudinal axis also to form a method of attachment to the casting` A which falls behind the plane of the blade and is entirely concealed thereby. This support (see Fig. 3) has a relatively long tapering arm l1 withl a' `V shaped tapering rib l2 to secure maximum stiness with a minimum of weight and horizontal'surface for the retention of snow and ice. This arm extends along the longitudinal axis at the back of the blade which is' secured to it by means of suitable rivets 6. Toward the blade grip this supportflai'es outwardly andis offset at i3 as shown in Fig. 2 having parallel edges 14C turnedup to face the blade grip 2. These 5d by means of which bolts 4a, 4b &c., secure the blade support and the casting A together. The object of slotting the holes is to facilitate attaching the blade to the spectacle casting. Owing to the small clearance below the blade for the bolt head, the bolts could only be inserted with diiiiculty, if at all, if holes were provided in the support instead of slots. Another advantage obtains in practice from slotting these holes, as this enables the two lower bolts to be inserted in the spectacle casting and the blade afterward slipped into place; these bolts forming a support for it until they other bolts are inserted.

As shown in Fig. 3 the olf-sets 13 also have extensions 13a, 13b and the parallel edges 14 have extensions 14a, llib which are turned inward as shown inclosing the space between the blade grip and the blade to the exclusion of snow and ice. In some cases the blade B has a stiiiening rib rolled on the edges as In the illustrations described a light sheet metal blade is shown supported by a comparatively heavy supportingpiece to which it is rigidly attached.

With -this .arrangement it is possible to construct a very strong blade of veryjlight sheet metal and concentrate the main part of the Weight at point near the pivot .also the supporting member is entirely 1.concealed from the front.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is: Y f

l. In a raiiltvay signal device, the combination of a semaphore lcasting, a comparatively light gage sheet metal Vblade, a ycomparatively heavy gage member secured to, but of less area than said blade and having an odset portion, means-for attaching said offset portion .to said semaphore casting Wliereby the attaching means are concealed from ,View on .one side of the blade. Y

2. ln a semaphore signal .device the combination of an intermediate reinforcing member secured'` to ,an enameled semaphore membei', said reinforcing member being secured to, and kWholly supporting, said semaphore member, and said reinforcing member being concealed from the frontof the blade.v

3. In combination, a semaphore casting,y a sheet metal blade, aone piece tapering reinforcing member secured to the back of said blade and attached to said semaphore casting, ,said reinforcing member being `expanded laterally at the point of attachment to saidsemaphore casting. I

t. ln a railway signal device, a spectacle, a blade, a reinforcing member .comprising an armr extending along the longitudinal axis of the blade and secured thereto and offset member-s vat one `end ofthe arm, which Copies `of this patent may belobtaned for oifset members serve as an exclusive means for the attachment of the blade to said spectacle.

5. In a railway signal device, a, spectacle, a blade, .a reinforcing member comprising an arm extending along the longitudinal axis of th-evblade and secured thereto and offset members at one end of the arm Which are slotted at their edges, Which, slotted off set members servie as a means for the attachment of the blade to said spectacle.

6. In a railway signal device, a spectacle,y

a blade, a Vreinforcing'member comprising anv armv tapering. longitudinally and extending along the longitudinalaxis of the blade and secured thereto and offset members at one endofthe arm, which Aoffset members serve asian exclusive means for the yattachment of the blade to said spectacle.

7. Ina railway signal device, a spectacle, a blade, a reinforcing member comprising a 'V shaped arm inv ,cross-section andl extending along the longitudinal axis of the blade andsecured thereto and` offset members at oneend of the arm, Which offset members serve as an exclusive means for the attachment ofthe vblade to said spectacle.

'ln witness whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our ,signatures in the presence fof two ',vvitnesses.4 n

-; RALPH n TUTTLE. c w

@MATTHEV LOGHRIDGE.

i l/Vitnesses: i

vWILLIAM Zin,

M. SA. ,KiRKLANnk ve cents each, by' addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

